The most impressive thing about this performance was team spirit and determination.

3-1 down with twenty minutes left against the league leaders, Thame 3s dug deep, pulled together and played some outstanding hockey to secure a 3-3 draw. Save for an Olympic-standard save from the Wallingford keeper, they might have even won it.

Whilst we were able to call on the experience of Chumpy and Medders, most of the team were under 17 - several under 15 - and yet showed a level of maturity few could expect. When calm heads were called upon, the young guns delivered. Ross Albany-Ward, Ben Lamb, Matty and Jonny Archer - all brand new to the squad - played like seasoned veterans, fizzing the ball around and feeding our hungry strikers "Dangerous" Dan Gibney and Tom Creswell up front - both of whom snaffled late goals to seal the draw, arch-poachers lurking in the forest of Wallingford defenders. Jonny Archer had opened Thame's account with some good following-up after a sharp first from an experienced and very well drilled opposition. Chris "Chumpy" Humphrey and Jonny "Medders" Medwin gave our young guns a masterclass in moving the ball around swiftly, as well as delivering sumptuous offerings into the D for the strike force to gorge themselves on. Moby had another excellent game in the goal, Coulon, Morton and Creswell worked tirelessly at the back, but it was Graham Kemp who was voted Man of the Match. Starting only his second game for the club, he is already a quality right back combining tenacious defending with an unceasing appetite to overlap his right half and surge into attack.

This is an exciting bunch of players. This is an exciting team and the good news for Thame Hockey is the quality of the youth players that are coming through.